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Method and apparatus for detecting damage in armor structures

a technology for armor structures and damage detection, applied in the direction of mechanical measurement arrangements, mechanical roughness/irregularity measurements, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of limited field application value, general inconvenient method, and damage to ceramic plates

Active Publication Date: 2009-02-12
ACELLENT TECH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This method provides a cost-effective, portable, and efficient means to detect damage in armor structures, maintaining their integrity and safety without the need for extensive training or radiation protection, while being lightweight and non-invasive.

Problems solved by technology

The ceramic plate can be damaged by impact and this damage will affect subsequent armor performance.
This method is generally inconvenient and of limited usefulness in the field.
Thus, the cost of deploying such an inspection method is relatively high.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for detecting damage in armor structures
  • Method and apparatus for detecting damage in armor structures
  • Method and apparatus for detecting damage in armor structures

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0031]FIG. 2A illustrates a damage detection system 20 for armor structures according to the present disclosure. System 20 includes a sensor embedded armor structure 10, a signal interface device 22 which interfaces between armor structure 10 and a computer 24 configured to run a software module that controls the interface device 22, determines actuation drive signal levels transmitted to transducers 1-4, analyzes received signals detected by transducers 1-4 when operated in sensor mode, and determines the location and severity of damage in the armor structure 10.

second embodiment

[0032]FIG. 2B illustrates a damage detection system 30 for armor structures according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, a hand held interrogation device 32 includes a digital signal processor (DSP) to implement the data analysis and damage detection. This DSP and the actuation and data acquisition circuits may be integrated into the single handheld device 32, such that no external computer is required to actuate transducers embedded in armor structure 10 or analyze the received signals resulting therefrom.

Sensors and Cables

[0033]Any necessary sensors and / or cables may be attached in any conventional manner known in the art. For example, a layer (e.g., a flexible circuit board) containing the sensors (e.g., transducers 1-4) attached thereto may be embedded or bonded to the armor structure 10 such that the transducers are effectively mechanically coupled to the structure 10 to generate and detect elastic wave signals. One may also use individually placed sensors for the s...

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Abstract

Detection of damage in armor structures, using networks of piezoelectric transducers. In particular, piezoelectric transducers can be placed at various points on the armor structure, effectively creating a number of paths between pairs of transducers. Each of these paths can be queried by transmitting an ultrasonic stress wave from one transducer to the other, and analyzing changes in the stress wave. The signal from the received stress wave can be time gated to remove crosstalk, and the resulting time gated signal can be analyzed for characteristics of damage. For instance, if the time gated signal is sufficiently attenuated, it can be determined that the armor structure has sustained damage to at least that region traversed by this particular path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 912,112, entitled “STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE,” filed on Apr. 16, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to structural health monitoring. More specifically, this invention relates to the detection of damage in armor structures.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Armor structures, such as ceramic plates used in body armor and other high-strength structures, are the subject of ongoing improvement efforts. More specifically, many pieces of modern body armor are composite structures. A major layer of the structure is the ceramic plate, which plays a decisive role in armor performance. The ceramic plate can be damaged by impact and this damage will affect subsequent armor performance. Detection of the damage is therefore very important. ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01B5/28G01M99/00
CPCG01N29/041G01N29/36G01N2291/106G01N2291/0427G01N29/4463
Inventor LIU, BAOLI, IRENECHANG, FU-KUO
Owner ACELLENT TECH
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